Grand Mosque of Erzurum

Grand Mosque of Erzurum is a historic mosque located in the center of Erzurum province, within the Yakutiye district of Türkiye’s Eastern Anatolia Region. Its construction date is recorded in various sources as 575 AH / 1179 CE, corresponding to the period of the Saltuklu Beylik. The structure is said to have been commissioned by Emir Nasreddin Muhammad in the name of Abu’l-Fath Muhammad. Inscriptions, no longer extant but documented in historical sources, corroborate this information. Throughout history, the building has also been known as the “Atabey Camii,” in honor of the Saltuklids’ title of Atabey.

Grand Mosque of Erzurum (Erzurum Governorate)

Location and Historical Development

Grand Mosque of Erzurum is situated on Cumhuriyet Caddesi, west of the Çifte Minareli Medrese and south of Erzurum Castle. The mosque is surrounded by historic structures: the Çifte Minareli Medrese to the east, Erzurum Castle and the Saat Kulesi (Tepsi Minare) to the north. Since its original construction, the building has suffered extensive damage and undergone numerous repairs due to natural disasters, wars, and changes in function. Documentation from inscriptions and historical records, particularly from the 17th century onward, provides evidence of these interventions.

Evliya Çelebi, during his visit to Erzurum around 1640, referred to the mosque as “Ulu Cami” and noted its construction on wooden pillars. Over different periods, the mosque also served as a hospital, food warehouse, armory, and shelter.

Architectural Features

Grand Mosque of Erzurum occupies a rectangular area measuring 54 by 41.7 meters. The prayer hall consists of seven bays perpendicular to the qibla wall, reflecting the multi-columned mosque plan type. The interior contains a total of 47 piers: 19 are attached to the walls, while 28 are freestanding. These piers take T-shaped, L-shaped, and rectangular cross-sections and are connected by arches. This structural arrangement may have been designed to mitigate seismic forces and maintain architectural stability.

The roof system is notable for its combination of different vault and dome types. In the central bay, a succession of barrel vaults, muqarnas vaults, mirrored cross vaults, and a swallowtail dome at the southern end are arranged sequentially. The dome above the mihrap is supported by four elephant-foot piers and constructed of wood. The use of wood instead of stone for the dome was preferred for its lighter weight and better moisture regulation. A lantern atop the dome provides illumination to the interior space.

The mihrap is framed by a three-tiered muqarnas niche and set within a pointed arch, flanked by oculus windows. According to historical sources, the light planes of these windows were positioned to assist in determining prayer times. The wooden elements such as the minbar and pulpit are not original but were renewed in recent times.

MIHRAP OF THE MOSQUE (Photo: Ahsen Güneş)

MUQARNAS DOME (Photo: Ahsen Güneş)

INTERIOR OF THE MOSQUE (Photo: Ahsen Güneş)

Facades and Entrances

The mosque has five entrance doors: three on the northern facade and two on the eastern facade. The central door on the northern side is a crowned portal in the form of an iwan, featuring a rectangular frame with a round arch. The other doors follow similar forms and have undergone various restoration interventions over different periods. One of the eastern doors is adorned with a mihrabiye motif, and above its entrance arch is a restoration inscription dated 1860.

The facades feature a total of twenty-three windows at varying levels and dimensions. Additional windows, later bricked up and removed, are also evident. The cylindrical tower in the southeast corner and the sloped architectural details in the northwest corner are among the structure’s original design elements.

Minaret

The minaret, located in the northwest corner of the mosque, is built on a stone base with brickwork. Its shaft is cylindrical and constructed using a simple basket-weave technique. The transition to the balcony is marked by a muqarnas band; the honeycomb section is made of brick, while the balcony and finial are crafted from cut stone. Access to the minaret is provided from within the mosque.

Restorations and Repairs

Grand Mosque of Erzurum has been affected by numerous earthquakes throughout its history, resulting in repeated repairs. The major documented restorations are as follows:

Functional Changes

Throughout its history, the mosque was not used solely for worship. During the 1635 campaign to Revan, it served as a food warehouse; during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78 and World War I, as a hospital; between 1918 and 1922, as an armory; and during World War II, as a shelter. These periods necessitated structural adaptations to accommodate its changing functions.

Protection Status

Grand Mosque of Erzurum was placed under protection by the High Council for Immovable Monuments and Historical Sites on 13 November 1976 under decision number A-188. The property is owned by the General Directorate of Foundations of the Republic of Türkiye.